Jamie Carragher poses Celtic question of Joe Hart as Peter Schmeichel takes cheeky dig at keeper's 'best mate'

Peter Schmeichel reckons he can't criticise Joe Hart during Celtic's heartbreaking defeat to Lazio for more than one reason.

And the Manchester United legend quipped that fellow pundit Micah Richards wouldn't take any heat being thrown on the Hoops keeper after a 2-1 loss to the Italians at Celtic Park in the Champions League - because the former England number one is his 'best mate'. Hart attempted to claw the ball off the line as Lazio equalised through Matias Vecino on 29 minutes, but could only watch as veteran Pedro struck with the final kick of the ball to place a well-measured header in to Hart's opposite corner.

Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher posed the question to the former shot-stopper if Hart could have done more for the Lazio winner, but the Norwegian reckons there was no stopping the late drama at Parkhead. It leaves Celtic without a win in their opening two group games, but Schmeichel insisted that new boy Luis Palma's goal being ruled out for offside was a 'marginal' call.

Schmeichel told CBS: “Celtic losing at home, at this point it’s 1-1, then have a look at the time, it’s 90+5. Celtic have just had a disallowed goal for a very marginal offside, then Pedro scores.”

Carragher then posed the question of Hart, saying: “What do you think of the goalkeeper," before the former keeper responded: “He can’t do much there. I would never criticise Joe Hart because he is Micah Richards’ best friend. I am not brave enough to do that.”